PCS officer booked
for corruptionFATEHGARH SAHIB, Sept 25 — The Vigilance Department Patiala has registered a case of corruption case against Mr P.S. Sodhi PCS Assistant Commissioner (G) to Deputy Commissioner and against his readers for accepting bribe of Rs 7,000. The Vigilance team also recovered the amount from his office.

PSEB workers seek
safety kitsBATHINDA, Sept 25 — Mr
Karora Singh, spokesperson of the Common Struggle Committee of
various workers’ unions of the Punjab State Electricity Board, Bathinda circle, said the workers were not provided the safety
kit which is necessary while working with electricity wires in the
streets.

Mulayam’s appeal to Barnala,
MannSUNAM, Sept 25 — Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Union Defence Minister and president of the Samajwadi Party, today appealed to Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, a senior SAD leader, and Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), to extend their support in this byelection to the Sunam Assembly constituency to Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, candidate of the Sanjha Morcha, to give a crushing defeat to the SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress.

Candidates focus on developmentSUNAM: If there is one issue that no candidate for the Sunam by-election fails to mention, it is the development of the constituency.

BJP ministers’ tours draw flakFEROZEPORE, Sept 25 — The Punjab BJP ministers’ tours in various parts of the state to mark the birth anniversary of party leader Deen Dayal Upadhayay today has evoked sharp criticism.

COMMUNITY

Gumtala takes over as Mayor in
AmritsarAMRITSAR, Sept 25 — Mr Lakha Singh Gumtala, former Deputy Mayor, took over as officiating Mayor of the Amritsar Corporation today. Former Mayor Subhash Sharma was conspicuous by his absence.

Army invites applications
from war widowsCHANDIGARH, Sept 25 — The Rehabilitation and Welfare (R and W) Section of the Army Headquarters today invited applications from the war widows, their children and disabled soldiers with a view to rehabilitating them. The applications should reach on or before October 31.

Unsafe building houses seat of learningPATIALA, Sept 25 — The Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya here housed prisoners in its earlier avtaar as the City Kotwali. It may be a school of learning today, but it is holding children and teachers to ransom as it may crumble any moment.

Chacha Bomb Squad goes
unsung
AMRITSAR, Sept 26 — There were no official words of condolence nor were any wreaths laid, as the body of Chacha Bomb Squad was consigned to the flames here today.

20-cr grant for Scheduled TribesRAJPURA, Sept 25 — The Punjab government will release a grant of Rs 20 crore for the Scheduled Tribes, during this financial year and Rs 20,000 each will be given to the needy persons to let them have a house.

Reservation for
Dalits soughtBATHINDA, Sept 25 —
Prof Gurnam Singh, spokesperson for a Dalit Society yesterday said the
government should implement the reservation policy in Punjab in
accordance with the 88th amendment of the Constitution.

PAU clarificationCHANDIGARH, Sept 25 — Punjab Agricultural University today described as incorrect a news item carried in these columns on September 20 under the heading “PAU seeds selling in the open market.”

BKU activists block trafficBATHINDA, Sept 25 — Traffic on the Bathinda-Chandigarh highway near Bhuchu Khurd village in the district came to a halt when activists of the Bharti Kisan Union
did not allow drivers of mini-buses to proceed.

Assault on Civil Surgeon flayed
HOSHIARPUR, Sept 25 — The local branch of the Indian Medical Association has condemned the assault on a Civil Surgeon by a former MP, Mr Kamal Chaudhry, on September 22.

Tota Singh for
compulsory EnglishMOGA, Sept 25 — The Punjab Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, advised the managements of schools and colleges
of the state to make English a compulsory subject in their institutions.

Thapar authorities foil students’ stirPATIALA, Sept 25 — The Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology
authorities today did not allow first year Bachelor of Engineering students protesting against a recent fee hike, to hold a dharna in front of the institute gates.

MANSA, Sept 25 — Despite the assurances of the Government of Punjab, purchasing agencies here have not started procurement of paddy. The district administration claims to have provided all facilities in the mandis, but the mandis betrayed the claim. Farmers endlessly wait for the officials. Various unions of farmers have threatened agitation if purchasing agencies delayed procurement.

On visiting different mandis it was learnt that officials came to the mandis, but did not purchase paddy, saying that the quality of paddy was below standards. But the farmers denied it, saying that purchasing agencies were making excuses. They said the agencies were not able to make arrangements for procurement.

MOGA: Farmers camping in the local grainmarkets for the past 20 days today said the representatives of government procuring agencies were not cooperating with them on the pretext that their stocks were not according to the specifications of the government.

They said only meagre stocks had been purchased. They decided to intensify agitation if their stocks were not cleared immediately.

The organising secretary of the PPCC, Mr Sathi Vijay, today announced to launch an agitation from October 1, if the government failed to make paddy purchases. He said Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, MP, would address farmers’ rally in the town on October 2.

The local Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kanwalbir Singh Sidhu, assured the farmers of help and asked them to bring their dry and clean produce to the markets.

BATHINDA: Mr Bhupinder Sharma, state vice-president of the Janata Dal ( United) criticised the government for delay in procurement of paddy.

In a press note issued here today, Mr Sharma said as government agencies were not buying paddy the farmers were forced to sell it at a throwaway prices. Even the minimum support price for the crop was hard to fetch, he added.

FARIDKOT:
Mr Binder Singh, president, District Kisan Union, here said no state agency had started procuring paddy. Punsup purchased a few hundred bags till 3 p.m. A deputation of producers led by him also held a meeting with Mr Venu Parsad, Deputy Commissioner. Mr Binder held out a threat of dharna in case 3 lakh bags of paddy were not purchased. Mr Parsad visited grainmarkets in Deepsingwala, Sadiq, Golewala, Machakikalan, Mehmuana, Kotkapura and Jaitu. he said the procurement was in full swing.

KAPURTHALA: Farmers today sat on a dharna on the Kapurthala-Sultanpur Lodhi road in front of the new grain market for more than two hours resulting in blockage of vehicular traffic. The farmers lifted the blockage after the government-agencies began the purchase.

Earlier, the farmers held a rally which was addressed by Mr Balwinder Singh Bajwa, among other union leaders. The government agencies purchased 1,600 quintals of paddy from the local grain
market.

FATEHGARH SAHIB: Thou-sands of commission agents and farmers gheraoed the Additional Deputy Commissioner and the Deputy Director, Food and Civil Supplies, when they visited the grain market.

Meanwhile, the state procurement agencies reached the grain market, Sirhind, and purchased few heaps of paddy, but the FCI and Markfed did not purchase any. Arhtiyas Association’s President Surjit Singh Sahi brought the matter to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner and urged him to direct the FCI and Markfed to purchase the paddy.

CHANDIGARH, Sept 25 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) has said that farmers are facing problems as paddy is not being procured in the state.

Mr Arvind Khanna, treasurer of the PPCC, in a statement said here today that the SAD-BJP was responsible for creating chaos on the procurement front. While the government was making tall claims with regard to procurement, nothing was happening in grain markets, he added.

Because of the failure of the government on the paddy front, farmers were resorting to agitation and traffic blockage, Mr Khanna added.

Mr Khanna said that he addressed farmers agitating in Sangrur district and assured them that the Congress would put pressure on the state government to ensure the procurement of paddy in all grain markets.

JALANDHAR (TNS): Even as a group of farmers led by Congress MLA Kanwaljit Singh Lalli staged a dharna at Bhogpur township and blocked the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway for about two hours, the procurement of paddy took off in most of the 83 mandis of the district, with the state government relaxing the specifications unofficially.

Earlier, farmers protested against procurement agencies for not purchasing paddy. The SDM reached the spot and the dhrana was called off after the procurement started at his behest.

On the other hand, the district administration claimed that about 20,158 metric tonnes of paddy had been procured in different mandis since September 21. Mr K. Shiva Parshad, Deputy Commissioner, said the daily arrival of paddy in the district was around 10,000 metric tonnes and was picking up with each passing day. He said the entire paddy crop which would meet the specifications would be procured by state and central procurement agencies.

Meanwhile, the procurement has started gaining momentum following instructions by the government to procurement agencies to relax specifications in view of protests by farmers in various parts of the state. Sources in the administration and the Food and Civil Supplies Department said the percentage has been unofficially increased from 5 per cent for broken rice and discoloured grain.

PHAGWARA: Angry over inadequate arrangements for paddy purchase, a section of paddy growers today tried to block traffic. Eyewitnesses said irate farmers squatted brief dharna on the Hoshiarpur road, the SDM and the DSP denied any type of protest. The SDM admitted that the FCI had reached Wahad and Rehana Jattan villages, it was yet to reach Phagwara. He claimed other five agencies today purchased 4000 bags here today.

BATHINDA, Sept 25 — In panic over the expected increase in the prices of diesel, the farmers of this region have started hoarding it to save much needed money.

To store diesel according to their farm needs before the hike in its price to be made by the central government, the farmers today purchased the same by taking loans from commission agents.

On the other hand, the petrol pump owners have been facing great problems to cope with the rush of farmers who today descended with their tractor-trailers loaded with empty drums. Most of the petrol pumps today registered double sale of diesel than the sale made by them in normal days.

Mr Sanjeev Kumar, an employee of Bathinda Service Station, said that today the sale of diesel was about 13,000 litres against the daily normal sale of 7000 litres. Similarly, a petrol pump today sold off about 22,000 litres of diesel against the daily normal sale of 12,000 litres.

The petrol pump owners said that in certain cases they had been selling the diesel to the farmers on credit basis on the surety of their commission agents. The farmers to save money of the diesel have also started taking loans from their known persons on interest also.

Mr Jarnail Singh, a farmer, said that he had earned thousands of rupees by selling off his paddy crop at a rate much below than the minimum support price (MSP) to private traders. He was to clear his outstandings with this money but he spent a major part of it on purchasing diesel as it would be beneficial for him.

Mr Darshan Singh Jeeda, President, Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP), Punjab, alleged that central government was deliberately increasing the rates of diesel to put more financial burden on the poor farmers of the country. He added that central government should made some other arrangements for fulfilling the oil pool deficit.

Mr Harnek Singh, State vice-president, BKU (Ekta) said that state government should oppose the anti-farmer decision of central government. He pointed out that hike in the prices of diesel would finish off those section of farmers who were already reeling under huge debt.

BATALA, Sept 25 — Five persons, three children one person and one woman died last week in Batala reportedly due to gastroenteritis. It was alleged that the
disease was caused by tap water polluted with leaking sewage. The news published in the vernacular press seems to be highly partisan highlighting the Congress version only.

Mr Jagdish Sawhney, local BJP MLA, said here today at 5 pm that he had verified the anticidents of the deceased and found that their premises were not even having municipal water connection. Further, he had deputed a team of the doctors who visited the locality house to house to distribute the medicines as a preventive measure.

He (Mr Sawhney) condemned the attack by Congress workers on Municipal Council office and damage furniture and said the Congress party was out to get a political mileage out of these deaths.

CHANDIGARH:
Taking serious note of reported deaths due cholera in Batala city, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today directed the Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur, the Director of Health Services and the Local Government authorities to take immediate remedial and preventive steps.

Expressing his anguish over the deaths, Mr Badal asked the Deputy Commissioner to conduct a fact-finding inquiry and submit his report to him within two days. He said the water supply and sewerage defects, as pointed out in news reports, should be rectified immediately and the public provided with potable water.

Mr Badal further directed that responsibility should be fixed on the basis of the inquiry and the guilty proceeded against.

FATEHGARH SAHIB, Sept 25 — The Vigilance Department Patiala has registered a case of corruption case against Mr P.S. Sodhi PCS Assistant Commissioner (G) to Deputy Commissioner and against his readers for accepting bribe of Rs 7,000. The Vigilance team also recovered the amount from his office.

Mr B.K. Uppal, S.P. Vigilance Patiala said that on the complaint of one Chand Singh resident of Gunia Majri, the Vigilance team headed by him raided the office of GA. He said he had alleged in his complaint that GA is demanding Rs 10,000/- from him for favouring him in a land dispute case. He had informed the Vigilance that today his case is fixed in his court and he will pay the bribe today. He said as he gave Rs 7,000 to his reader, the team raided the
office. The GA and his reader were coming out of their office for lunch. The team took them into their office and searched the record the SP said Rs 7000 were recovered. He said the reader has been arrested, while the intensive investigations are going on to verify the role of the AC (G).

Later a deputation of the employees of DC office also met the DC and the SP Vigilance and termed it as a planted case.

BATHINDA, Sept 25 — Mr
Karora Singh, spokesperson of the Common Struggle Committee (CSC) of
various workers’ unions of the Punjab State Electricity Board
(PSEB), Bathinda circle, said the workers were not provided the safety
kit which is necessary while working with electricity wires in the
streets.

At a press conference organised here today, he alleged that the authorities were providing them gloves which are used in the kitchen, for safety. He alleged that the Superintendent Engineer of Bathinda circle had adopted an indifferent attitude towards the workers and was making efforts to crush the power of the unions which had been urging the authorities to fulfil their demands.

He said, that with this intention, the authorities had transferred 12 representatives of the unions in the circle. He said about 10 employees from technical staff were working as drivers. He alleged that only 10 employees were working at grid stations in the circle where 28 employees were required.

He said meager amounts of Rs 170 and Rs 260 were being given to workers for their summer and winter dresses, respectively, per year. He added that about 33 per cent official cargo did not have the proper documents and about 50 per cent posts of driver had been lying vacant for many years.

Mr Sukhmander Singh, convener of the committee, demanded that the workers of all unions were ready to talk to the authorities without any condition. He said the transfers of the unionists should be cancelled. He added that the restrictions imposed on the workers not to organise the demonstrations and dharnas should also be removed.

He demanded that the PSEB should give compensation to the family members of those who died in service. The government should change the transfer policy and should consult the representatives of the unions in the matter.

He
said that the authorities should withdraw the cases registered against
the representatives of the unions and other workers. He demanded that
all the workers should be given the safety kit.

SUNAM, Sept 25 — Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Union Defence Minister and president of the Samajwadi Party, today appealed to Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, a senior SAD leader, and Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), to extend their support in this byelection to the Sunam Assembly constituency to Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, candidate of the Sanjha Morcha, to give a crushing defeat to the SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress.

Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav further said Mr Barnala should openly support the candidate of the Sanjha Morcha. He said if Mr Mann did not support Mr Chandumajra it would be an indirect help to the SAD and the Congress candidates. He said the formation of a third front at the national level was the need of the hour so Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD), should come forward to strengthen the newly formed Sanjha Morcha in Punjab and spread it at the national level.

Mr Yadav was addressing an election rally of Mr Chandumajra at the old subzi mandi (vegetable market) here. The rally was attended by SHSAD chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, president of the Lok Bhalai Party, Mr Ravi Inder Singh, MLA from Morinda, Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala, convener of the Sanjha Morcha, Mr Jasbir Singh Rode, president of SAD (Panthic), and Mr Harish Khanna, president of the Punjab unit of the Janata Dal (Secular).

The former Defence Minister while appealing to the voters to cast their votes in favour of Mr Chandumajra said the time had come to teach a lesson to Mr Parkash Singh Badal’s Akali Dal, the BJP and the Congress. He asked the people to provide victory to Mr Chandumajra and promised a change in the politics of the country. He further said Mr Badal had direct links with the BJP and indirect links with the Congress. He said this had been proved at the time of passage of a Bill on the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in Uttaranchal.

He also assured the Sikhs if the Sanjha Morcha got an opportunity to rule at the Centre the sentiments of the residents of Udham Singh Nagar would be honoured. He also said Mr Badal had betrayed the residents of Udham Singh Nagar.

Mr Mulayam Singh said under the BJP-led government at the centre and the SAD-BJP government in Punjabi, farmers were being ruined due to the steep hike in the agriculture inputs.

Mr Tohra assured the Samajwadi Party chief the Sanjha Morcha would be strengthened further to defeat the Congress and the SAD-BJP alliance. He said he would work whole-heartedly for the successful formation of a third front at the central level.

Mr Chandumajra also presented two resolutions regarding beating up of unemployed teachers by SAD workers here and another alleged attack on the SC/OBC employees at Namol village by the SAD supporters the previous day. Both the resolutions were adopted by the gathering demanding arrest of the erring persons and registration of cases against them.

Among others who addressed the gathering included Mr Teja Singh Tiwana, president of Punjab Janata Dal, Mr Jagjit Singh Layalpuri, president of Punjab unit of the MCPI, Mr Chand Singh Chopra, district secretary of the CPM, and Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia.

SUNAM, Sept 25 — Hundreds of employees from various parts of the state, under the banners of the Punjabi Mulazam Sangharsh Committee and the Democratic, Teachers Front, took out a protest march in the bazaars and streets of the town today. The protesters were raising slogans against the SAD-BJP government for its alleged anti-employee policies.

The employees, who were in about 100 vehicles, also appealed to the residents of the town to cast their votes against the SAD candidate, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, in the byelection for the Sunam Assembly constituency on September 29.

The employee leaders alleged that the Badal government had backed out from its promises with the employees in the state. They said even the already accepted demands had not been implemented by the state government.

The leaders said various sections of the employees had been forced to come to the streets due to the alleged indifferent attitude of the government.

CHANDIGARH, Sept 25 — The Punjab Government today declared September 29 as a public holiday in all its offices, boards and corporations and all educational institutions situated in the Sunam assembly constituency due to the
byelection.

A press note issued by the government said the public holiday would be within the meaning of Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

CHANDIGARH, Sept 25 —
With a view to conducting free and peaceful polling in the Sunam
Assembly bye-election, the Punjab Government today declared that from
5 pm on September 27, to 5 pm on September, 20 and October 3 would be
observed as ‘dry days’ in the Sunam assembly constituency and its
adjoining areas.

According to the orders issued by the government,
no liquor shops, hotels, restaurants, clubs and other establishments
selling or serving liquor shall be permitted to serve liquor.

SUNAM: If there is one issue that no candidate for the Sunam by-election fails to mention, it is the development of the constituency.

Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate, says that there are many issues, but he is raising the issue of development because the constituency has remained backward. Past MLAs had not paid attention to this aspect. He says his first priority will be the completion of incomplete projects.

He says he will pay equal attention to the development of the town of Sunam as well as the rural areas. Upgradation of schools, drinking water supply, sewerage and better health care are among his priorities, he says. He thinks he will win by a big margin.

Ms Parmeswari Devi, the Congress candidate, is citing the achievements of her late husband, Bhagwan Dass Arora, as an MLA from Sunam. She promises to work for the completion of development projects started by her husband. She also speaks of the failures of the SAD-BJP government and corruption in the state. She claims that she will win by at least 5,000 votes.

Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, general secretary of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) and the candidate of the Sanjha Morcha, says he will highlight the failures of the Badal government on different fronts, corruption in the state, the actions of the Badal family, increase in power rates and the lack of development in the constituency.

He promises to pay immediate attention to the construction of an over-bridge on the railway line in Sunam. Besides, he will work for the solution of the problems of the villages. He thinks the real contest will be between the Sanjha Morcha and the Congress.

Prof Sukhjinder Singh the SAD (Amritsar) candidate, says he has been raising the issues of corruption in the state, “parivarvad” in the SAD, lack of development in the constituency, and “false promises” made by the SAD-BJP Government. His priorities include an over-bridge on the railway line, setting up of agriculture-based industry in the constituency, better transport services for the villages and upgradation of schools.

He predicts an “unexpected” result in the election, thereby meaning victory for the SAD (A).

Mr Sampuran Singh Chhajli, the CPI candidate, has been raising issues of protecting the interests of labourers and farmers and eliminating corruption in the state. His first priority will be overall development of the constituency which included drinking water supply for all villages and sufficient staff in the schools.

He is not ready to hazard a guess about his prospects but says that the party’s base is strong in this constituency.

FEROZEPORE, Sept 25 — The Punjab BJP ministers’ tours in various parts of the state to mark the birth anniversary of party leader Deen Dayal Upadhayay today has evoked sharp criticism.

According to the schedule chalked out by the party, at least eight BJP ministers visited places outside their assembly constituencies to take part in functions organised to mark the 85th birth anniversary of the Jan Sangh leader. The ministers’ movement and necessary security arrangements, besides use of the official machinery on the occasion, has triggered a controversy.

While the Excise Minister, Mr Tixan Sood, a BJP legislator from Hoshiarpur, attended today’s event in Ferozepore, the Forest Minister, Mr Surjit Kumar Jyani, an MLA from Fazilka, near here, went to Gurdaspur.

Apart from the Ferozepore ADC, Mr R.G. Sahota, senior excise officials are learnt to have visited the PWD rest house to accord welcome to Mr Tixan Sood. This has fuelled speculation that the ministers may also utilise their visits as business tours.

Condemning this, the state council of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has charged the BJP ministers with misusing the official machinery for a political function. “When the state’s economy is bleeding the BJP ministers should have restrained the function to their party level”, the member of the CPI state council, Mr Randhir Gill, lamented.

Party insiders also feel the ministers could have observed the event within their home constituencies to avoid criticism. While justifying the programme arrangements, Mr Sood said BJP ministers were committed party soldiers and had to spread the ideology of Mr Upadhayay to every corner of the state. Brushing aside the allegation of misuse of official machinery, he said, “I have come here on my personal vehicle and not in the official car”. He, however, said the ministers being public servants could not ignore meeting people if they had grievances against their respective departments on such occasions. Adding that his visit should not be construed as an official tour in the garb of attending a political function, he said. “We have a life beyond own office too”.

AMRITSAR, Sept 25 — Mr Lakha Singh Gumtala, former Deputy Mayor, took over as officiating Mayor of the Amritsar Corporation today. Former Mayor Subhash Sharma was conspicuous by his absence.

The officiating Mayor is at logger heads with the Joint Commissioner, Mr Gurwaryam Singh, who has remained inaccessible. Talking to this correspondent, Mr Gumtala said when he went to the corporation office with 500 Akali supporters he was greeted with a locked office. After waiting for long when his supporters threatened to break the locks the room was opened.

While Mr Gumtala alleged the Joint Commissioner was not accessible he said no official vehicle in conformity to his new status as a Mayor was provided to him. He has alleged he was told the vehicles had been sent to Jalandhar.

Further, he said no security was being provided to him. Even the personal assistants to the Mayor, Mr Bhawani Shanker and Mr Kamal, had not approached him and refused to oblige him when he asked them to report to him.

Finding little support and cooperation from all quarters, Mr Gumtala announced those who did not work would not be tolerated.

Incidentally, vehicles allotted to the former Mayor were an Ambassador and a Gypsy. At least 7-8 security personnel of the Punjab Police were also provided to him.

He alleged he was being discriminated against on the ground that the BJP enjoyed majority in the house and in anticipation of the new Mayor from the BJP he was being denied cooperation.

The new acting Mayor said a vehicle was desperately needed as he had been inundated with complaints from residents and he needed to take a survey of the town with regard to cleanliness and other activities.

Meanwhile, Mr Baldev Singh Verka, CPI member, while welcoming Mr Gumtala as the officiating Mayor clarified the Congress assumption of the CPI supporting a Congress candidate for the post of the Mayor was wrong as no decision had been taken as yet about support to any political party for
mayorship.

AMRITSAR, Sept 25 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee flying squad has found six employees (pathis) absent from their duties.

This action, directed by the SGPC secretary, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, came two days after submission of the inquiry report which found Dr Bachan guilty of ordering a payment of Rs 2 lakh to an SGPC member. The inquiry committee had also recommended the removal of Dr Bachan from the post.

Talking to TNS, Dr Bachan, however, said he won’t tender his resignation as his tenure was till April 2 next year. He claimed that Bibi Jagir Kaur had advised him not to tender resignation.

Meanwhile, a senior SGPC member, Mr Puran Singh Josh, in a written press statement has alleged that the three-member inquiry committee had given ‘clean chit’ to Mr Kashmir Singh Gandiwind, an SGPC member due to ‘pressure’.

He said that he had “concrete proofs” that the SGPC member had got the gurdwara funds from the cashier.

Meanwhile, the SGPC has convened its executive meeting on October 3. Mr Balbir Singh Pannu, Senior Vice-President, who had locked the strong room of cashier for stopping the wrong payment to Mr Gandiwind, is likely to force the executive to implement the three-member inquiry committee report.

Mr Hardalbir Singh Shah, the general secretary and member of the inquiry committee, said that the committee has done its duty by submitting the report. He said final decision rests with Bibi Jagir Kaur.

Dr Bachan also held a meeting of assistant secretaries and other senior functionaries of the SGPC and asked them not to ‘play’ into the hands of some “disgruntled” persons.

Meanwhile, Prof Harbans Singh Balina, a close confidant of Bibi Jagir Kaur, has joined as honorary personal secretary (education). Dr Bachan said he was happy that his student (Prof Balina) had joined the SGPC.

CHANDIGARH, Sept 25 — The Rehabilitation and Welfare (R and W) Section of the Army Headquarters today invited applications from the war widows, their children and disabled soldiers with a view to rehabilitating them. The applications should reach on or before October 31.

A spokesman of the Punjab Defence Services Department said for availing of these benefits provided the Army Central Welfare Fund, managed by the Rehabilitation and Welfare Section, was set up by the Central Government at the Army Headquarters in the wake of Kargil conflict.

Outlining various benefit schemes for the welfare of the dependents of the Army personnel, the spokesman said children of all ranks who were killed or disabled in various military operations since August 15 , 1947, would be eligible for educational scholarships. The grant would also be payable for purchase of mobility equipment like wheel chairs, motorised tricycles and scooters and fitting of artificial limbs. To make the disabled soldiers financially secure, the government would also assist them for vocational training and self-employment ventures. The grant would also be given for the marriage of daughters of war widows and disabled soldiers. The grant would be limited to a maximum of two wards of each beneficiary, he added.

The spokesman added that only widows of battle casualties, disabled soldiers, their dependent children and parents would be eligible for free medical treatment for serious diseases. The beneficiaries would also be given financial assistance to set up their own agro-based ventures in horticulture and animal husbandry.

For more details eligible beneficiaries may contact the authorities at the Zila Sainik Boards of their respective districts. Applications for the grants, as applicable, could also be sent to the R and W Section, Army headquarters, Building No 153, Kashmir House, New Delhi - 110011.

PATIALA, Sept 25 — The Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya here housed prisoners in its earlier avtaar as the City Kotwali. It may be a school of learning today, but it is holding children and teachers to ransom as it may crumble any moment.

This building, which houses a primary school and a college, had been established in Sirhindi Bazaar in the sixties. It is in a miserable state today and nothing is being done to improve its lot. It was declared an unsafe building by the Public Works Department in 1993.

The state of this building is causing serious problems to the Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, which is facing severe financial constraints. “Looking at the state of the building, many parents refuse to admit their children here,” said Mr Kushiram Sharma, a Hindi teacher at the college. “There is not a single room worth calling a class room in the college,” he added.

The dark and dingy rooms, once meant for prisoners, present a depressing sight. Out of the total 20 rooms, 7 were declared unsafe by the PWD. No part of the building looks safe. Despite several appeals to various authorities, nothing has been done so far either to restore the building or to shift the institutes to a safer place, said Mr Sharma.

The Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, which is the premier institute of its kind in the region is losing its importance mainly due to infrastructure problems. The hall, which was initially meant for the Library, now accommodates the teaching staff.

There is no toilet, no drinking water facility and no canteen, said Bhupinder Singh, a student of the college. The classrooms of the primary school also lack the minimum essential furniture like benches and blackboards.

Amalgamation of the primary and the middle school with the college has created another problem for the teachers. The noise made by the school students often disturbs the senior students during classes.

The mahavidyalaya has a rich past. The foundation stone was laid by Maharaja Narinder Singh in 1860. The college was housed in the haveli of Nawab Nizam Khan, before it was shifted to this building in the sixties. Sources said the success of this college inspired the king to lay the foundation of Mahindra College in 1875.

The past glory is all the institute can boast of now, said Dr Shaktidhar Sharma, a teacher at the college. In spite of being the premier institute ‘Acharya’ classes, the highest degree in Sanskrit, have not been introduced till now, he said.

Even to do a simple oriental training course, which is required for the students to get into teaching after passing out Shastri or Giani, they have to go out of Punjab because there is no such course in any of the Sanskrit colleges in Punjab, said Mr Kushiram Sharma. This problem, coupled with the lack of infrastuctural facilities in this college, have led to a tremendous decrease in the strength of students over the years, he added.

AMRITSAR, Sept 26 (UNI) — There were no official words of condolence nor were any wreaths laid, as the body of Chacha Bomb Squad was consigned to the flames here today.

The unnoticed exploits of Kishan Lal’s Chacha Bomb Squad as he was popularly known amongst his former colleagues in the Punjab police, will not find any mention either in history books or in the numerous books written on terrorism in Punjab. However those who knew Chacha closely, still carry memories of this lean man bending over a live bomb and studying it for sometime and then snapping at the circuit of the bomb in order to defuse it.

When bomb explosions by Pakistani-backed terrorists was quite a common feature in the city. The one-member bomb squad of ‘Chacha’ helped save hundreds of lives, one after another. The man must have defused at least a dozen bombs hidden by terrorists in the busy lanes, in vehicles and in trains. But he won no recognition for these acts except for an occasional letter of appreciation.

Services of Chacha who had retired as a Subedar from the Army were sought by the Punjab police. The police did not have any bomb
diffusion expert here. He joined the police in 1989 as a Special Police Officer (SPO) and left the organisation about three years ago.

The shopkeepers of the busy Katra Ahluwalia area cannot forget the day in 1991, when ‘Chacha’ defused a bomb in pouring rain and himself sustained injuries which led to his arm being partially disabled.

Due to his Army background Chacha could handle the most complex bomb circuits. For all his acts Chacha’s name was never considered for any bravery award and neither was he compensated for his medical bills.

Senior police officers often took the credit for any bomb that Chacha defused. On the plea of certain well-meaning local citizens, however, Chacha’s name was forwarded to the state Home Department for the ‘Saurya Chakra’ but his file continues to gather dust in department.

RAJPURA, Sept 25 — The Punjab government will release a grant of Rs 20 crore for the Scheduled Tribes, during this financial year and Rs 20,000 each will be given to the needy persons to let them have a house. This was announced by Mr Balramji Das Tandon, Local Government, Labour and Employment Minister, here yesterday, as he laid the foundation stone of a link road from Jungpura village (near Banur) to the G.T. Road.

He inaugurated the 24-hour electricity supply to the village. At Nilas and Dhamoli villages, he handed over the papers of 20 houses constructed at a cost of Rs 10 lakh to the poor. The Sarpanch, Mr Maan Singh of Shandu village, was given Rs 1 lakh for the repair of the primary school building.

Mr Tandon informed that a sum of Rs 3,000 crore had been spent on the Ranjit Sagar dam which would start generating 660 MW of electricity by October. It would be inaugurated by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee.

He also informed that Rs 25 lakh had been released for upgrading the dispensary at Old Rajpura. An additional sum of Rs 25 lakh would be released for the slum areas. Grants of Rs 9.5 crore Rs 2.25 crore and Rs 1.5 crore had been sanctioned for the construction of an over-bridge near bus stand and making A.P. Jain Hospital, Rajpura, 100 bedded. He later handed over a cheque for Rs 50 lakh to Mr Jai Kishan at a function in Rotary Bhavan for widening of the main road.

BATHINDA, Sept 25 —
Prof Gurnam Singh, spokesperson for a Dalit Society yesterday said the
government should implement the reservation policy in Punjab in
accordance with the 88th amendment of the Constitution.

He was
speaking at a “Save Constitution Conference” organised by the
activists of the various unions at Baba Sahib B.R. Ambedkar Park. He
said the Central Government should not make any change in the
Constitution.

He added that the Puna Pact had proved to be fruitless
for the Dalits of the country. It was Dr Ambedkar who made efforts to
organise the three round table conferences and it was also due to him
that the Dalits got the right to vote.

CHANDIGARH, Sept 25 — Punjab Agricultural University today described as incorrect a news item carried in these columns on September 20 under the heading “PAU seeds selling in the open market.”

A statement issued by Mr S.S. Gill, Director (Seeds) of the university, said the university had a well-defined system of testing before releasing any variety of seeds. He said the statement regarding the unavailability of seeds of varieties like PR-115 was also baseless. Seeds of this variety were freely available throughout the paddy sowing season at the PAU seeds shop.

BATHINDA, Sept 25 — Traffic on the Bathinda-Chandigarh highway near Bhuchu Khurd village in the district came to a halt when activists of the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) did not allow drivers of mini-buses to proceed.

Activists were protesting against owners of mini-buses and the authorities concerned. They alleged that mini-bus owners were involved in fleecing passengers.

Mr Nachhattar Singh, president BKU (Ekta), said union activists had met the District Transport Officer and the Deputy Commissioner in this regard but nothing had been done to check the malpractice.

HOSHIARPUR, Sept 25 — The local branch of the Indian Medical Association has condemned the assault on a Civil Surgeon by a former MP, Mr Kamal Chaudhry, on September 22.

In a joint press note issued here yesterday, Dr S.K. Narad, president and Dr B.S. Ahuja, secretary of the association, said politicians had become law unto themselves. He condemned the former MP for ransacking the house of the surgeon. The association said that the surgeon was right in asking for a written permission from the District Magistrate for conducting the post-mortem at night. The police had failed to prepare the papers till 8.45 pm.

The conference condemned the anti-employee, anti-national, anti-labour and economic policies of the Centre, which, it alleged, were being framed under the pressure and guidance of imperialistic powers like the World Bank and IMF, resulting in privatisation of public sector units, opening up of insurance industry to multinationals and the private sector.
The conference decided to strengthen the struggle against privatisation.

ROPAR, Sept 25 — Four Punjab Police officers including Mr Jaspal Singh DSP, Balwant Singh, Inspector, Avindervi Singh, Sub-Inspector and Darshan Singh Assistant Sub-Inspector, have been chargesheeted by the Sessions Judge, Ropar, Mr Maghar Khan, for falsely implicating Mr Harpreet alias Lucky in the murder of an advocate Kulwant Singh of Ropar. The special prosecutor, Mr J.S. Sidhu who represented the CBI in court alleged that these four police officers had falsely implicated Mr Harpreet alias Lucky in the above said murder case to save the real culprits.

Advocate Kulwant Singh, a lawyer in Ropar district court was abducted and killed by unidentified persons in 1993. His death evoked wide spread stir from the lawyers and other political parties. Due to the pressure generated by the public these four police officers allegedly falsely implicated Harpreet in the murder of the advocate. However, Harpreet was acquitted of the murder charges by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Later the Supreme Court directed a CBI inquiry into the incident.

The CBI in it’s investigation report submitted recently has held that these police officers had falsely implicated Harpreet in the case to save the real culprits. They have booked the accused police officers under Sections 120B, 193, 194, 211, 218 of the IPC.

According to the complainant, she was married to Kishore Kumar on November 7, 1993, at Mirpur Colony, Pathankot. She alleged that she was maltreated by her in-laws on account of bringing inadequate dowry.

She further alleged that her in-laws made a demand for a Maruti car, a colour television and Rs 50,000 in cash. According to the complainant, her parents were not in a position to give all the items. The complainant alleged that her husband expressed his intention to go for a second marriage.

She further alleged that she was subjected to mental pressure and was repeatedly expelled from her in-laws’ house. She alleged that in May, 1999, her husband and in-laws tried to poison her.

The complainant stated that she had no other option but to move the court. After recording the preliminary evidence, the Magistrate, passed an order summoning her husband and mother-in-law.

FATEHGARH SAHIB, Sept 25 — Mr A.N. Jindal, Additional District and Sessions Judge, today sentenced Ranjit Singh, Balbir Singh and Mohan Lal Verma, all teachers at Government High School, Madhopur, and Jasbir Kaur, a resident of Mandofal village, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each on them for being involved in the gangrape of Manjit Kaur, a class-X student of the school, in 1994.

MOGA, Sept 25 — The Punjab Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, advised the managements of schools and colleges
of the state to make English a compulsory subject in their institutions. This was stated by him while addressing the management and students of Guru Nanak Mission College at Baghapurana town, 15 km from here, yesterday.
He also announced that XI and XII classes would be started in this college with immediate effect.

PATIALA, Sept 25 — The Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET) authorities today did not allow first year Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) students protesting against a recent fee hike, to hold a dharna in front of the institute gates.

Security men of the Institute did not allow students to gather outside the gate and they had to shift their tents a little away. However, Dean, Students, again passed an ultimatum that the police would be called if the students persisted with their dharna as no protest could take place within a fifty yard radius of the institute.

Following this the students made brief speeches and dispersed to their homes as they were neither allowed an entry into the institute nor to take their luggage from the hostel rooms. Their hostel had also been sealed.

Student representatives told TNS that the authorities had told them that they could enter the institute only if they come with an undertaking from their parents that they would abide with the fee hike and the rules and regulations of the institute.

They said students wanting to go to their hostel rooms to take books and other essential items were also prevented from doing so. They said there were many students who had come to attend classes, as letters asking them to come with an undertaking from their parents on September 27 had not reached them.

Meanwhile, it appears the institute authorities would have their way in the case of fee hike. Students feel that in the face of an ultimatum to pay or to leave the institute, their parents would prefer to make the first choice. However, all of them were bitter at the manner in which the hike was effected.

They said they had been informed at the time of admission about the probable hike in fee and development charges, but they had been told that the hike would be finalised by the time of counselling. “If this was done we could have made a choice”, they said, adding that they had not anticipated a 50 per cent hike in tuition fees, besides steep increase in development charges.

The institute has increased the tuition fee from Rs 16,000 per semester to Rs 24 ,000 per semester.

Besides this the development charges, which were earlier a one time affair pegged at Rs 5,500 have been made an annual feature at Rs 3,500. After representations to the authorities failed to elicit a favourable response, the students had boycotted classes and subsequently had to leave the hostels as these were closed by the authorities.